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Peter looked utterly confused.

Well, considering his situation, it’s no wonder he’s so bewildered that he might think this is all a dream.

Wendy, who he thought was dead, is alive, and he’s even getting along with Tristan, whom he once considered an enemy.

Not only that, but seeing me, the so-called villain of villains, mingling with the noble Bella, it’s like his brain can’t process the reality before him.

Throughout the meal, Peter stared at the table where I was sitting, looking as if he couldn’t tell whether the food was going into his mouth or his nose.

He looked like a starving slave, enviously watching his master eat. No one would ever guess that Peter was the protagonist of the original story.

No, seriously, I tried to treat him like the main character, but why did he have to refuse…?

They say the protagonist is unyielding, but does that include his pride too?

To anyone who doesn’t know the situation, it must look like I’m some cruel master making a slave eat on the floor.

The stares around us were piercing, but there was nothing I could do.

Hanging onto him any longer would be embarrassing, and more importantly, I felt like I needed to keep my distance from Peter.

Even if I showed him kindness now, he’d probably think I was hiding something or being insincere, given how he’s always seen me as an enemy.

So, I decided to arrange a place for Peter to be with Wendy.

Wendy might be able to clear up some of his misunderstandings about me, and the two siblings probably have a lot to talk about after being apart for so long.

After the meal, I took Wendy and Peter to a nearby café and tried to slip away, but Bella subtly inserted herself between the two.

“Why are you…?”

“Why? It’s not right to leave them alone, even if this is a tourist spot.”

Bella whispered to me.

True… since this is a vacation spot for nobles, it would be a bit awkward to leave them alone.

But if I or Helga stayed nearby, Peter would notice, so it was a relief that Bella volunteered to stay.

“Besides…”

“?”

“If I’m here… maybe I can help clear up some of the misunderstandings about you.”

“……”

I didn’t expect Bella to go that far.

Wait, now that I think about it, she’s been openly trying to dispel the bad rumors about me.

I’ve heard that after finishing the expedition, while I was busy with the Emperor, Bella went around the social scene correcting misunderstandings about me.

It was a rumor I half-doubted, but it seems she’s really been working hard to change my reputation.

“…What is it?”

Just as I was feeling a bit touched, Bella poked my side with her finger, giggling.

“You’re making such an uncharacteristic expression. Are you moved?”

“No…”

“If you’re impressed, just praise me already.”

Uh, um…

Even if I’ve been possessing Tristan for a long time, it seems his nasty personality has rubbed off on me. Compliments just don’t come out easily.

“I…”

“Forget it. Honestly, it’d just be awkward if you praised me.”

“…Is that so?”

I couldn’t help but let out a bitter smile.

Honestly, I know. I’ve lived my whole life without ever saying thank you or sorry, so suddenly saying those things would feel unnatural.

But that doesn’t mean I’m not trying. I’m making an effort to change, bit by bit. Though it’s not easy, given how cold and blunt my speech has become…

I’m just worried. Worried that Bella or the people around me might misunderstand my feelings.

We’ve barely avoided death flags and turned a near-hostile relationship into something closer, but I’m afraid my tone might push them away again.

But that was completely unnecessary worry.

“Hmph. Count, I know exactly what you’re thinking.”

“What…?”

“You’re probably worrying about something pointless again.”

She hit the nail on the head. No, it was like she read my mind. Bella reassured me.

“Don’t worry. I won’t judge you just because of your tone. It’s just that you’re not the type to express gratitude with words.”

Bella gently stroked my cheek and whispered.

“I know. You’re someone who knows how to be grateful. You’ve always shown your gratitude through actions, not words.”

“So that’s why you went to the social scene, which you rarely attended, to talk about me?”

“…You knew?”

“Yeah… I found out somehow.”

I turned my head to hide my awkwardness.

“I owe you….”

“Hmm…”

That was all I could say. But to Bella, it seemed to be enough.

“It’s nice that you admitted it so cleanly. You should be that honest with me from now on, okay?”

“Yeah. I got it.”

“Hehe. Good.”

With that, Bella headed over to where Peter and Wendy were talking.

But suddenly, she turned her head sharply and said to me.

“Oh, by the way, the debt you owe me can be repaid later when we sleep.”

Huh? When we sleep?

“What do you mean…?”

“Playing dumb. How cute.”

No. We booked separate rooms, right…? Why are you acting like we’re going to share a bed…?

Bella smiled mysteriously and handed me something.

“See you later, Count.”

In my hand was the key to her room.

*

I was walking aimlessly, gazing at the night sea.

I had stopped by the café earlier, but it seemed the conversation was still going strong.

From a distance, I watched Peter, who still didn’t seem to remember Bella.

In the original story, it was Peter, the protagonist, who occupied the seat next to Bella.

But here, the two were talking as if they had never met before.

Watching them, my feelings as the original reader were quite complex.

Whether this was a good situation or not, seeing the story unfold so differently from the original made me realize how much I’ve changed things since coming here.

The way the story has progressed is entirely my fault.

It’s the result of the choices I made to save this world, which inevitably altered the future.

Bella, who was talking to Peter, caught my eye and winked at me as if to say, “Don’t worry.”

That sight was so endearing that I almost laughed, but I held it back and turned my head.

At the same time, I secretly wished that this everyday life could continue.

‘Yes. It’s too early to relax.’

I’ve prepared to stop the players’ invasion, but there’s no guarantee that I can definitely stop it.

Having prepared for invasions countless times in previous loops, I know. Even when I thought I was perfectly prepared, I always failed.

Even if I can loop again this time, I don’t want to fail anymore.

Among all the loops I’ve experienced, this one is special.

Wendy, Helga, Bella, Blanshe, Arthur, Luna, Lucy… they’re all alive. They’re all by my side. And now, even the protagonist, Peter, has appeared before me.

Out of all the loops, things have never gone this well.

That’s why I absolutely want to succeed this time.

‘Success…’

I quietly mulled over that word.

Thinking about it, the success I truly want isn’t just about everyone surviving the players’ invasion.

I want to connect the world I lived in with this one.

I want to break down the huge wall between the two worlds.

That is the ending I truly desire.

Once, I was so despairing of the hopeless reality that I almost gave up, but fortunately, I found a possibility.

No… to be precise, Sora showed it to me.

When my sister, who was trapped in this world, spilled coffee on me in the real world, I realized something.

This world isn’t a one-way street where people from the real world log in, like an online game. It’s a place where both sides can interact.

That’s why the term “reality” isn’t accurate.

This world is also another reality.

If I, from another world, could enter this one, then surely people from this world could go to the one I came from.

To make that happen, I…

“Hey, grumpy-looking oppa.”

A voice suddenly called from behind, and when I turned around, there stood a woman with a mischievous smile.

“Helga…”

“Oh my. It’s so dark I didn’t realize it was you, Count.”

It was like reading from a textbook.

Of course, she was doing it on purpose.

Helga never really hides her emotions. She just pretends to.

“Are you worried about something serious?”

She’s quick to notice.

Even in this dim evening, she caught my dark expression.

But I can’t share my worries with her.

This is a task given to me alone.

“No…”

“Hmm… Count, you’re really bad at lying.”

Now that I think about it, it’s not that she’s quick to notice. Having spent so much time with her, Helga understands my mood just as well as Bella.

But Helga, knowing I was lying, didn’t pry or press further.

She just said this.

“Count. Let’s go swimming.”

“…Swimming?”

“Yes. I came prepared with a swimsuit.”

Before I could say anything to stop her, Helga shamelessly started taking off her clothes.

Luckily, it was dark and we were away from people, or else we’d have drawn a lot of attention.

“How do I look?”

In an instant, Helga was in her swimsuit, proudly asking me.

Honestly, I thought she’d try to pass off her underwear as a swimsuit, but surprisingly, it was a proper one.

No… not just proper, but a rather pretty bikini.

And without realizing it, I found it hard to look away. Her body, reflecting the moonlight with a bluish hue, was flawless.

Seeing her like this, it was hard to imagine she was the daughter of the Wolfbert family, known for their monstrous strength.

She just looked like a delicate woman standing before me.

“Hehe… Do you like it that much? Seeing you speechless, I guess I chose well.”

“…Not bad. But I’m not going swimming.”

“Eh? Why not?”

“I can’t swim.”

I never intended to in the first place.

I came here to relax, not to play in the water. Swimming is exhausting.

Besides, the formal suit I’m wearing now is far from suitable for swimming.

“Tch… Then just watch me swim, Count. I’ll swim for you.”

Is this some kind of proxy experience?

I nodded reluctantly, and Helga, her eyes sparkling, jumped into the sea.

“Ahahaha! It’s so refreshing!”

“Is that so?”

“You should come in too, Count!”

“I’m fine…”

“Hmph.”

Helga made a strange sound and started swimming under the moonlight.

With her stunning looks and toned body, it was like a scene from a photoshoot… but only from a distance.

Up close, it was a different story.

“Count~. Look at this! I’m good at swimming, right?”

“…Doggy paddle?”

Helga was floating on her back, flailing her arms and legs. To anyone, it looked like a dog swimming.

“Doggy paddle!? This is wolf-style swimming!”

What’s the difference between a dog and a wolf…?

Grumbling, Helga continued her doggy—no, wolf-style swimming. It really was like a wolf. No wonder she’s a Wolfbert.

Just as I was thinking that…

“Eek?!”

Helga let out a sharp scream.

“My, my leg cramped…!”

“?!”

Of all times, it had to be when she was quite far out…

Unable to move her leg, Helga started flailing in the water.

But I had already jumped into the sea.

“Stay still!”

“Count…! Gasp…!”

I quickly swam over to her.

I’m not a great swimmer, but I’m glad I learned.

More than anything, what made me hurry was the memory of Helga’s death in previous loops.

Every second counted.

Forgetting that my clothes were getting wet, I swam over and managed to grab the flailing Helga.

“Cough, cough…”

“Hang in there.”

I swam back to where the water was only waist-deep, holding her.

“Phew… Are you okay…?”

As I held Helga, I felt something was off. Her leg…

“Didn’t you say you had a cramp?”

“Ahaha… That was… a lie.”

What?

Helga stuck out her tongue and made a cute face.

“Now you have to swim with me—”

“Cut it out!”

“?!”

I snapped.

“There’s a limit to jokes. Are you playing with your life just to mess with me?”

“Huh? Uh… Count…”

After all the worry I went through.

I almost cursed but held back.

Even though it was just a brief moment, I was surprised at how angry I got.

I thought I was good at controlling my emotions, having honed ‘Patience’…

I swallowed hard. Barely calming myself, I warned her.

“Never… never joke about your life like that again.”

“I’m, I’m sorry… Really…”

Helga, not expecting me to get so angry, apologized.

“Just don’t do it again.”

“Um… Count.”

But Helga, still in my arms, hesitated and then spoke.

“Am I important to you?”

“Yes. You are.”

What else could I say?

She stayed by my side until the very end. Never betraying me, she perished with me… She’s irreplaceable to me.

“You’re important to me too. But why won’t you take me?”

“……”

“Why won’t you make me your woman?”

Her heavy questions left me speechless. More than anything, Helga’s serious expression made it impossible to ignore.

“Am I not attractive? Ah, I know. Compared to the Princess, I’m lacking in femininity…”

“No…”

Helga’s wet hair looked strangely alluring. Water droplets fell from her long eyelashes.

Who could say she lacked femininity?

“You’re an incredibly attractive woman.”

“You said it yourself. That I’m yours.”

“Yes.”

“Then… show me proof.”

What happened next was so sudden.

Helga kissed me.

But it was an uncharacteristically timid kiss.

One that seemed to expect me to pull away at any moment… a kiss full of hesitation.

It was so pitiful.

So unlike Helga, so fragile and wistful… that I finally…

I decided to be honest.

“…!?”

I accepted Helga’s kiss.

I accepted her steadfast heart that had always looked only at me.

Her wistful heart that had perished with me.

I accepted it all.

Then, Helga gently closed her eyes.

This time, I took her lips.

I didn’t want to miss the soft moan that escaped her mouth.

Under the moonlight, we kissed deeply.

When our lips parted, our eyes met as if we had made a promise.

“…Ha.”

A sensual sigh escaped Helga’s lips.

Even in the moonlight, I could see it.

The blush on her face.

“Y-you’ll come to my room later, right? I won’t lock the door.”

I knew what that meant.

But I… had already heard something similar from someone else earlier.

What should I do? Should I be honest?

As I was thinking that, Helga reacted as if struck by lightning.

“Ah?!”

“What’s wrong?”

“W-what do I do?!”

Helga’s expression was serious.

More so than when she pretended to drown.

Surely she didn’t actually get a cramp now, did she?

No, even if she did, she wouldn’t react like this…

“What do I do…”

I waited nervously for her to speak.

“I think I just had an idea.”

“……”

Yeah. Of course.

“Huh? C-Count? Why are you making such a scary face? W-wait! Ahhh!”

Splash!

Without hesitation, I threw Helga back into the sea.

 

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